BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Kentucky’s premier preseason basketball event is just a little over two weeks away. The Zip Zone Express Tip-Off Classic kicks off at 11 a.m. Nov. 30 at Martin County High School.

Once again, Martin County coach Jason James has put together a top-tier lineup for basketball enthusiasts, featuring teams like Kentucky Sweet 16 champion Lyon County and West Virginia Class A state champion Tug Valley.

In a highly anticipated matchup, Sweet 16 runner-up Harlan County will face winner Lyon County at 4:05 p.m. Lyon County claimed a Sweet 16 victory over Harlan County in the final last season, winning 67-58.

At 6:40 p.m., Johnson Central will take on the reigning Class A champion Tug Valley Panthers.

The host Martin County Cardinals, led by Peyton Davis, will be in the 8 p.m. slot. They take on powerhouse George Washington from Charleston, West Virginia, a Class AAA team with multiple state championships to its name, including titles in 2011, 2018, and 2021.

The basketball talent exhibition starts with Shelby Valley taking on Chapmanville, a strong West Virginia Class AA team that narrowly lost to Ravenswood 54-53 in overtime in the state tournament last season.

At 12:15 p.m., 16th Region champion Ashland will face 14th Region All “A” champion Breathitt County. Ashland, which lost to eventual state champion Lyon County 45-43 in the first round of last season’s Sweet 16, is looking for a strong start.

In another exciting matchup, Hazard from the 14th Region will take on 9th Region champion Newport.

Boyd County, representing the 16th Region, faces off against Adair County, the 5th Region champion, at 2:50 p.m. Adair County defeated Marshall County 72-55 in the first round of the Sweet 16 last season before falling to Lyon County 80-65.

Coach Robin Newsome’s Martin County Lady Cardinals will compete against Coach Seth Ooten’s Tug Valley Lady Panthers. The talented ladies take the floor at 5:35 p.m.

Ticket prices for this must-see event will be announced next week.